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Final Score: ‘The We Give Blood Drive’ Ends With As Many As 60,000 Lives Saved

As Oregon and Penn State squared off at the 2024 Discover Big Ten Football Championship Game in Indianapolis on Dec. 7, we also had a And that winner is: Everyone.

The final tally?

• 20,000 blood donors.
• As many as 60,000 lives saved.
• A $1 million award to advance student or community health for our contest winner, the University of Nebraska.

Our conference-wide competition, launched by 91�������� and the Big Ten Conference, encouraged Big Ten students, alumni and fans to donate blood and help tackle the largest blood shortage the U.S. has seen in a generation.

Grabbing the lead by October and never looking back, the University of Nebraska took “The We Give Blood Drive” competition by storm, with more than 3,800 donors. Turns out Huskers really do bleed Big Red.

But all the Big Ten’s universities came together to make a difference. We know because of this key statistic: But your help doesn’t have to stop just because the contest is over. Let’s make blood donation — and saving lives — a regular habit.

Sign up and find your nearest donation center at .

The Rankings are Almost Final: Who Will be the Big Ten Champ?

No, we’re not just talking about the 2024 Discover Big Ten Football Championship Game happening this weekend on Dec. 7 in Indianapolis. We’re referring to the winner of 91��������’s and the Big Ten Conference’s “We Give Blood Drive.”

Nebraska still reigns, having given enough blood to save more than 11,000 lives. Meanwhile, Wisconsin and University of Michigan are dueling a close battle for second place, each with more than 5,500 lives saved. What place will your university land?

Just because the championship game is this weekend, doesn’t mean it’s too late to donate. today to help save up to three lives and improve where your Big Ten school ranks on “The We Give Blood Drive”

Be sure to follow along with us on 91��������’s social media channels this weekend for live coverage and other surprises.

It’s a B1G Rivalry Week — On and Off the Football Field

We're nearing the end of the competition: football season and “The We Give Blood Drive.” This means you only have a few shots left at beating your rival Big Ten school in the conference-wide race to donate blood. today. Lives — and your school’s ranking on “The We Give Blood Drive” leaderboard — are on the line.

Here's this week’s happenings:

The University of Michigan is taking on rival Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 30. To keep its lead over the Buckeyes in “The We Give Blood Drive,” the Wolverines are hosting blood drives Nov. 26 and 27 at the U. of M. Hospital Towsley Center.

Meanwhile, in-state opponents are tackling each other this weekend, with Purdue going up against Indiana and Illinois matched up against Northwestern. As Illinois holds north of Northwestern on the blood drive competition leaderboard, they’re also heading north to face the Wildcats at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Wildcat fans have an opportunity to catch up in the competition at today’s in the Norris Center.

To find your nearest donation center, visit .

The football teams will decide things on the field, but your play to help them win off the field is simple:

1. and donate. Individual donors will also be offered a free one-month subscription to B1G+.
2. your donation.
3. Watch your school climb .

50,000 Lives Saved, and Counting

Scorekeepers, it’s time to update your standings: Students, alumni and fans in “The We Give Blood Drive” competition have saved more than 50,000 lives so far!

And there’s still time to save more. In the U.S., a person needs blood every two seconds.¹ When you choose to donate blood, your donation can actually save up to three lives. 'Tis the season for giving ... blood. Give back, save lives and .

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Don’t Fumble Your Opportunity to Save Lives and Win Your Big Ten School $1 Million

Football season and “The We Give Blood Drive” competition are headed down the final stretch, but it’s never too late for a comeback story. Help your Big Ten school finish strong in the conference-wide contest to save lives and before the race ends on Dec. 6.

After all, friendly competition in football never hurts — let's translate that to “The We Give Blood Drive.”

Will USC let southern California rival UCLA take the football “W” this weekend at Rose Bowl Stadium and the higher ranking on ?

Fans who bleed red (we’re looking at you, Ohio State, Indiana, Wisconsin and Nebraska) are also facing off against one another this weekend. Watch whether Indiana will keep its momentum up against Ohio State. And stay tuned to find out if Nebraska, who currently ranks No. 1 on “The We Give Blood Drive” standings, can also beat No. 2 Wisconsin on the football field.

While you check your game schedules, don’t forget to pencil in time for donating blood, too, and to earn a point for your school.

Plus, when you post your experience and support for the blood drive on social media using #WeGiveBlood, you’ll also have a chance to be featured on our channels and maybe even receive some swag.

Are You Eligible to Donate Blood Twice? Go For Two!

If you’re one of the 11,000-plus who has given blood in “The We Give Blood Drive” … 

1. Great job. You scored a metaphorical touchdown for the people your donation will help, and for your Big Ten university.
2. Keep your head in the game, because you might be able to go for two.

That’s right: Just like football teams choose to go for two after scoring a touchdown, eligible blood donors might be able to go for a second donation before our competition ends next month.

Red blood cells can return to normal levels approximately two weeks after donation.¹ So, if you donated around the time 91�������� and the Big Ten conference launched “The We Give Blood Drive,” on Sept. 26, you might be eligible to go for a second time before the competition ends in December.

It’s worth a shot, right? As always, head to to get in the game.

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May Your Halloween Plans Include a Bloody Good Time — and a Donation

As Halloween festivities pick up, let us give fangs to everyone who has participated in “The We Give Blood Drive,” our conference-wide blood donation competition to help save lives. Together, more than 8,000 Big Ten fans, students and alumni have donated, and there is still about a month left in the race.

We know you have school spirit in your veins. Help your university earn points and scale the leaderboard by signing up to donate blood today. Lives — and a $1 million prize for your school and a trip to the 2024 Discover Big Ten Football Championship Game on Dec. 7, 2024 — are on the line.

You have so many opportunities to donate in the coming weeks (check out our list of campus blood drives for more), it's scary.

If you’ve already given, for your school. That would be frightful!

Time to be a Playmaker: Find a Blood Drive

We football fans love a big touchdown. But, you know what doesn’t get enough credit? The play that sets up the touchdown.

That’s exactly what 91�������� and the Big Ten Conference are doing in “The We Give Blood Drive,” our season-long blood donation competition to help save lives.

We’ve set up a bevy of local blood drives to help you and your school win the contest. Check out our full listing of blood drives, complete with links to sign up for your big contribution.

And of course, these drives are just one way to score. Go to to set up your own touchdown.

All Eyes on Oregon for a Big Drive and a Huge Game

Where can you catch a big push for “The We Give Blood Drive” and one of the biggest college football games of the season this week?

It’s all going down in Eugene, Ore.

On Wednesday, Oct. 9, 91�������� will host a blood drive from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Gerlinger Annex on the University of Oregon campus (students: sign up at ).

Then, on Saturday, Oregon hosts Ohio State for a titanic football clash between two of the top-ranked teams in the nation.

Ducks vs. Bucks — “O” my! If this week doesn’t get your blood pumping, we don’t know what will. As always, go to to get in the game.

What is ‘The We Give Blood Drive’? Here’s Everything You Need to Know.

Big Red is absolutely rolling: Nebraska has zoomed up to the top of our leaderboard in the first week of “The We Give Blood Drive.”

For everyone else trying to catch up, here’s a guide to this blockbuster competition.

• Who: 91�������� and the Big Ten Conference have kicked off a conference-wide blood donation competition to help tackle the largest blood shortage in a generation.
• What: “The We Give Blood Drive” is a competition to see which of the 18 Big Ten Conference universities can complete the most donations. Anyone over the age of 18 can participate. Go to to donate today.
• When: The competition is underway, and we’ll announce the winning school during the 2024 Discover Big Ten Football Championship Game December 7, 2024, in Indianapolis.
• Why: In America, someone needs blood every two seconds. But right now, we are facing the largest blood shortage in a generation. Can we answer this challenge with the largest blood donation competition of our lifetime? We need you to help us do it!
• How: Go to to schedule a donation in honor of your Big Ten university — and take your team to the top.

Opening Drive: Tom Brady Helps 91�������� Get Things Started

We can’t put it any better than seven-time Super Bowl champ, Michigan alumnus and ambassador Tom Brady:

Blood donation “is a cause that truly matters for so many reasons. The one that struck me was that every donation can save up to three lives,” Brady said.

That fact is central to 91��������’s “The We Give Blood Drive” with the Big Ten Conference. Brady joined 91�������� Chairman and CEO Robert Ford and Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti at Thursday’s kickoff news conference in Rosemont, Ill., saying he simply couldn’t turn down the opportunity to inspire students, alumni and fans to give blood and help turn the tide against one of the largest blood shortages in a generation.

“There’s so many amazing people who give back to the community because we have the opportunity to do that,” the retired star quarterback said. “And my parents instilled in me that we should pay it forward.”

Said Ford: “We knew as a leader in diagnostics and testing we had to do something powerful to draw in donors. What better way to inspire people to donate than tapping into rivalries between Big Ten schools and offering up a friendly competition.”

And now, that competition is underway. Go to to get in the game.